Serological techniques for the detection of antibodies to porcine thrombocytes. 2. The complement fixation and antiglobulin consumption techniques

Attempts were made to detect antibodies to porcine thrombocytes by two indirect techniques. Only hetero-antibodies were detected by complement fixation; iso-antibodies were detected by the antiglobulin consumption technique. The latter gave consistent reliable results, the difference between positive and negative results being clear-cut, but was found to be laborious.
The problems of porcine thrombocyte serology are discussed.     

Rab40–Cullin5 complex regulates EPLIN and actin cytoskeleton dynamics during cell migration

Rab40b is a SOCS box–containing protein that regulates the secretion of MMPs to facilitate extracellular matrix remodeling during cell migration. Here, we show that Rab40b interacts with Cullin5 via the Rab40b SOCS domain. We demonstrate that loss of Rab40b–Cullin5 binding decreases cell motility and invasive potential and show that defective cell migration and invasion stem from alteration to the actin cytoskeleton, leading to decreased invadopodia formation, decreased actin dynamics at the leading edge, and an increase in stress fibers. We also show that these stress fibers anchor at less dynamic, more stable focal adhesions. Mechanistically, changes in the cytoskeleton and focal adhesion dynamics are mediated in part by EPLIN, which we demonstrate to be a binding partner of Rab40b and a target for Rab40b–Cullin5-dependent localized ubiquitylation and degradation. Thus, we propose a model where Rab40b–Cullin5-dependent ubiquitylation regulates EPLIN localization to promote cell migration and invasion by altering focal adhesion and cytoskeletal dynamics.     

Iso-antibodies to red cell antigens in pigs' sera. 1. Iso-immunisation of pregnancy in sows

It has been demonstrated that iso-immunisation of sows by foetal red cell antigens can occur. Four sows were shown to produce iso-antibodies to the blood group factors Ea and Kb, after giving birth to Ea-positive and Kb-positive piglets, respectively. They did not produce the antibodies after giving birth to only Ea-negative and Kb-negative piglets, respectively.
Two Ea-negative gilts and a further Ea-negative sow, all of which had no evidence of red cell iso-antibodies in their sera were mated to an Ea-positive boar. Anti-Ea was detected in the sera of two of them for the first time after the subsequent parturition; the third remained negative.
Complete and reliable life histories of all these animals were available. There were no previous injections of pig red cells in any form.